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Bear killed after biting Durango man

The Colorado Division of Wildlife and U.S. Department of Agriculture shot and killed a bear that had bitten a Durango man.

The man, who was sleeping outdoors near the Animas River, was bitten through his blanket at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday, wildlife officials said. He received a minor wound and escaped to a nearby building.

DOW and USDA officers responded with tracking dogs and found the bear about three blocks away.

“A bear that bites a person, or loses its fear of people, may be a serious threat to public safety,” said Patt Dorsey, area wildlife manager for the DOW’s Durango office. “In the interest of public safety, we chose to remove this animal as quickly as possible.”

An autopsy of the animal revealed “human-provided food sources” in its stomach, including a hamburger package and an ice cream container.